Methods and systems for selectively providing a networked service

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems of determining the approximate location of a terminal are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer system receives from a first mobile computer terminal and/or from a communication system in communication with the first mobile computer terminal, global positioning satellite and/or cellular network location data, wherein the location data corresponds to the approximate location of the first mobile computer terminal. Based at least in part on the location data, the system determines if the first mobile computer terminal is within a first area, wherein presence in the first area is needed in order to be authorized to access a first service. The system, at least partly in response to failing to determine that the first mobile terminal is in the first area, transmits to the first mobile computer terminal location information regarding at least a first location in the first area.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/675,373, the contents of which areincorporated herein in its entirety.

COPYRIGHT RIGHTS

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patentdocument or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent andTrademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves allcopyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methods and systems of determining thelocation of a terminal, and in particular, to systems and methods forelectronically determining the location of a terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art

While there have been attempts to distribute lottery tickets via onlinelottery systems, for a variety of reasons many of these online lotterysystems have failed to adequately address the challenges andopportunities presented by such online lottery distribution. Forexample, certain conventional approaches to online lotteries have failedto efficiently provide processes and systems for validating that lotterypurchasers meet governmental regulations regarding lottery purchasers,such as certain residency or age mandates, or purchase locationrequirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An example embodiment provides a computer system configured toselectively provide access to a service, comprising: a first instructionconfigured to receive a lottery order from a first user; a secondinstruction configured to determine if the user is identified in agovernmental database as being prohibited from participating in at leasta first lottery; and a third instruction configured to determine if thelottery order is to be fulfilled at least partly based on determiningwhether the user is identified in the governmental database as beingprohibited from participating in at least the first lottery.

One example embodiment provides a method of processing location data fora computer terminal, the method comprising: receiving at a computersystem from a first mobile computer terminal and/or from a communicationsystem in communication with the first mobile computer terminal, globalpositioning satellite and/or cellular network location data, wherein thelocation data corresponds to the approximate location of the firstmobile computer terminal; based at least in part on the location data,determining if the first mobile computer terminal is within a firstarea, wherein presence in the first area is needed in order to beauthorized to access a first service; and at least partly in response tofailing to determine that the first mobile terminal is in the firstarea, transmitting to the first mobile computer terminal locationinformation regarding at least a first location in the first area.

Another example embodiment provides a computer readable media thatstores a program, said program capable of being executed by a computerto cause the computer to: receive at a computer system globalpositioning satellite or cellular network location data, wherein thelocation data corresponds to the approximate location of a first mobilecomputer terminal; based at least in part on the location data,determine if the first mobile computer terminal is within a first area,wherein presence in the first area is needed in order to be authorizedto access a first service; and at least partly in response to failing todetermine that the first mobile computer terminal is in the first area,transmit to the first mobile computer terminal location informationregarding at least a first location in the first area.

Another example embodiment provides a method of processing location datafor a computer terminal, the method comprising: receiving at a computersystem location data corresponding to the approximate physical locationof a first terminal; based at least in part on the location data,determining if the first terminal is within a first area, whereinpresence in the first area is needed in order to be entitled to access afirst service; and at least partly in response to failing to determinethat the first terminal is in the first area, transmitting to the firstterminal location information regarding at least a first location in thefirst area.

Still another example embodiment provides a method and system formanaging lottery pools. An example method comprises: receiving over anetwork an indication from a first user that the first user isinterested in forming a lottery pool; accessing historical lotterytransaction data for the first user from a data store; accessinghistorical lottery transaction data for other users from the data store;determining which other users are relatively more suitable to be membersof the lottery pool at least partly based on the historical lotterytransaction data for the first user and for other users; andtransmitting over the network to a terminal associated with the firstuser a presentation of other users with an indication that at least afirst other user is more suitable to be a member of the lottery poolthan a second other user.

Yet another example embodiment provides a method of processing data, themethod comprising: receiving over a network an indication from a firstuser that the first user is interested in forming a lottery pool;identifying contacts in a contact database associated with the firstuser that have a lottery-related account and that have opted in toreceive invitations to participate in a lottery pool; transmitting amessage to the first user that identifies at least a portion of thecontacts in the contact database that have a lottery-related account andthat have opted in to receive invitations to participate in a lotterypool; and receiving an indication from the first user that an invitationto join the lottery pool is to be sent to at least a first of thecontacts identified in the message.

An example embodiment provides a method of establishing a lotteryaccount for a user, the method comprising: receiving a request from theuser to establish an account related to lotteries; storing an electroniccopy of a government document including information identifying theuser, the user's age, and an address associated with the user;determining if the user is a customer of a first internet serviceprovider; accessing a database to determine if the user is to beexcluded from lottery participation; and establishing an account for thefirst user at least partly in response to determining that thegovernment document information indicates that the first user meets atleast one governmental rule for participating in a lottery, that theuser is within the authorized area, and that the database does notindicate that the first user is to be excluded from lotteryparticipation.

Another example provides a method of establishing a lottery account fora user, the method comprising: receiving a request from the user toestablish an account related to lotteries; determining if the user is acustomer of a first internet service provider; receiving personal datarelated to the user from the first internet service provider; andestablishing an account for the first user at least partly in responseto the data received from the first internet service provider.

Still another example provides a method of distributing lottery funds,the method comprising: storing in computer readable media at least onerule from a user that indicates that a first portion of a future lotterywinning is to be deposited in a first account and that a second portionis be deposited in a second account; and storing at least one rule froma governmental entity that indicates that winnings above a specifiedamount are to be distributed in a manner specified by the governmentalentity, wherein the at least one rule from the governmental entity takesprecedence over at least one rule from the user.

Yet another example provides a method of distributing lottery funds, themethod comprising: storing in computer readable media a user instructionthat indicates that at least a portion of a future lottery winning beautomatically used to make a lottery-related purchase; determining thatthe user has lottery winnings; and automatically applying at least aportion of the lottery winnings to a first lottery related purchase inaccordance with the user instruction.

Another example provides a method of processing a lottery-related userinstruction, the method comprising: storing in computer readable media auser instruction that indicates that a lottery-related purchase is to beautomatically made when a jackpot reaches a user-defined threshold;determining that a first jackpot reached and/or exceeded theuser-defined threshold; and automatically applying at least a portion ofthe lottery winnings to a first lottery related purchase in accordancewith the user instruction.

Yet another example method provides a method of processing data, themethod comprising: receiving a lottery order from a first user;determining if the user is identified in a governmental database as notbeing eligible to participate in at least a first lottery; determiningif the lottery order complies with a first user rule specified by thefirst user prior to the lottery order; and at least partly based ondetermining if the user is identified in a governmental database as notbeing eligible to participate in at least a first lottery and ondetermining if the lottery order complies with a first user rulespecified by the first user prior to the lottery order, determining ifthe lottery order is to be fulfilled.

Still another example provides a method of recommending lotteries to afirst user, the method comprising: accessing historical lotterytransaction data for the first user from a computer readable data store;accessing location information for the first user; and at least partlybased on the historical lottery transaction data and the locationinformation, recommending at least a first lottery to the first user.

Another example embodiment provides a method of configuring a lottery,the method comprising: causing a form for configuring a lottery to bepresented on a display, the form including the following fields: alottery identifier; a lottery start date: a lottery end date; a lotterydrawing date; date information regarding when online access to thelottery is to be provided to the public; types of bets, wherein a usercan select one or more bet-types that will be permitted in the lottery;number of characters or indicia allowed in a lottery ticket or betidentifier; and a lump sum field, wherein the user can indicate that alump sum payment option is available for the lottery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which are for illustrative purposes only.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of an apparatus that can beused in conjunction with processes described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example process for receiving and verifying userinformation.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example lottery process.

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another example lottery process.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example process for providing location informationto a user.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example message providing location data to a user.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example lottery notification.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example lottery group invitation user interface.

FIGS. 9A-B illustrate another example lottery process.

FIG. 10-15 illustrate example user interfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to electronic distribution of lotterytickets, and in particular, to systems and methods for lotterydistribution and tracking.

Throughout the following description, the term “Web site” is used torefer to a user-accessible server site that implements the basic WorldWide Web standards for the coding and transmission of hypertextualdocuments. These standards currently include HTML (the Hypertext MarkupLanguage), which can be used to generate Web pages, and HTTP (theHypertext Transfer Protocol). It should be understood that the term“site” is not intended to imply a single geographic location, as a Webor other network site can, for example, include multiplegeographically-distributed computer systems that are appropriatelylinked together. Furthermore, while the following description relates toan embodiment utilizing the Internet and related protocols, othernetworks, such as networked interactive televisions and networkedwireless phone or terminals, and other protocols may be used as well.

In addition, unless otherwise indicated, the functions described hereinmay be performed by software modules including executable code andinstructions running on one or more general-purpose computers. Thecomputers can include one or more central processing units (CPUs) thatexecute program code and process data, memory, including one or more ofvolatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) for temporarilystoring data and data structures during program execution, non-volatilememory, such as a hard disc drive, optical drive, or FLASH drive, forstoring programs and data, including databases, which may be referred toas a “system database,” and a wired and/or wireless network interfacefor accessing an intranet and/or Internet. In addition, the computerscan include a display for displaying user interfaces, data, and thelike, and one or more user input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse,pointing device, microphone and/or the like, used to navigate, providecommands, enter information, provide search queries, and/or the like.However, the present invention can also be implemented using specialpurpose computers, terminals, state machines, and/or hardwiredelectronic circuits.

In addition, the example processes described herein do not necessarilyhave to be performed in the described sequence, and not all states haveto be reached or performed. Further, certain process states that areillustrated as being serially performed can be performed in parallel.Further, while the following discussion may refer to a certaingovernment entity, such as a state, the systems and processes describedherein can be used with other government entities (e.g., the federalgovernment), or non-government entities (e.g., private corporations).

Users can optionally provide instructions and information to the lotterysystem described herein via Web pages, SMS messages, instant messages,interactive voice processing systems, and so on, and the userinstructions and information can be stored in computer readable memory.The lottery system can optionally provide information, notification,forms and instructions to users via Web pages, SMS messages, instantmessages, interactive voice processing systems, and so on.

The processes and systems described below relate to systems andprocesses that enable the distribution, sale, and/or tracking of lotterytickets for a lottery (e.g., an event involving chance and the awardingof one or more prizes, such as a monetary or other prize, wherein a useroptionally pays to participate in the lottery). However, the lotterysystems and processes described herein can optionally also be used tosell or auction other items, such as event tickets (e.g., to an eventthat takes place at a venue, such as a sporting event or a concert) orthe like. The term “lottery ticket” as used herein, is not limited to aphysical ticket, but can be any form of a right to participate in alottery (e.g., an alphanumeric or other code, an electronic key, etc.).Furthermore, electronic lottery tickets can be emailed to a user who canprint out the lottery tickets, lottery tickets can be downloaded via aWeb page, or tickets can be conventional lottery tickets mailed orotherwise delivered to a purchaser, such as via a ticket kiosk.

Certain states that are considering permitting the online distributionof lottery tickets are considering imposing one or more mandates on whomthe state's lottery tickets may be sold to. For example, a state maymandate that a lottery ticket purchaser be of a certain minimum age(e.g., 18 or 21 years old), or may mandate certain residencyrequirements (e.g., that the lottery ticket purchaser be a stateresident, or that the lottery ticket purchaser be a U.S. resident), orlocation requirements (e.g., that the purchaser be within the state).Still additional mandates may be provided. For example, there may be aprohibition of selling lottery tickets to individuals that are on acertain list or whose names are stored in a certain database (e.g., adatabase storing names of parents that owe child support payments, adatabase storing names of prison inmates, a database storing names orother identification information for those on watch lists, such asterrorist watch lists, or a watch list directed to those that aresuspected of laundering money, etc.).

One or more processes can be utilized to verify, with a certain degreeof confidence, that a ticket purchaser meets one or more governmentalmandates. Optionally, a lottery distribution system can require thatpurchasers, and/or potential purchasers, provide credentials (e.g.,copies or certified copies of a birth certificate, a social securitycard, a driver's license, a governmental identity card, a passport, abill mailed to the purchaser, etc.) via the mail, present copies ororiginal identification through a physical outlet, or provide thecredentials electronically over a network. The physical outlet can be aticket sales outlet, a lottery specific outlet, or a government office.Optionally, the identification documents can be scanned in orelectronically read and stored in computer readable memory. In addition,a biometric scan of the user can be made (e.g., one or more of afingerprint, eye scan, or voice scan), and the results can be stored incomputer readable memory for later use by the lottery system for manualor automatic identification and verification purposes.

A user account can then be set up on an electronic networked lotterysystem. The user account information can be stored in a user accountdatabase (e.g., the member/transaction database 142 described below)that stores user contact information, billing information, preferences,account status, and the like. In addition, the user account database canoptionally store electronic copies of one or more identificationdocuments and/or biometric scan. The user can also select or be assigneda user identifier and/or password which can be stored in the useraccount database. Once the user account has been established and theuser has been validated as meeting certain criteria, the user can thenbegin using the account and/or purchasing lottery tickets as describedherein.

In addition, the lottery system can receive over a network and storeinformation validating a user's identity, age, residency, or othercharacteristics. For example, the lottery system can host a lottery Website, including a plurality of Web pages. A user can access the lotterysystem via a user terminal, such as a personal computer, an interactivetelevision, a networkable programmable digital assistant, a computernetworkable wireless phone, and the like. The user terminal can includea display, keyboard, mouse, trackball, electronic pen, microphone (whichcan accept voice commands), other user interfaces, printer, speakers, aswell as semiconductor, magnetic, and/or optical storage devices. Forexample, the lottery system can present queries to the user via a Webpage form, or otherwise, asking for certain information, such as one ormore of the user's address, age, name, driver's license number oridentifier, government identification number or identifier, etc. Thelottery system can use some or all of the information to determine ifthe user meets the qualification for a particular lottery.

The lottery system can optionally access, directly or via a third party,a state database, such as a state driver license database, to determinethe user's residence, age, etc., wherein certain information provided bythe user (e.g., license number, address, phone number, etc.) can be usedto locate and access the appropriate driver license database entry. Userinformation can be gathered from still other sources. For example, basedon billing information provided by a user (e.g., a credit card number),the lottery system can automatically access from one or more public,governmental, or private third party databases the user's residence,age, etc., in order to validate that the user is eligible to purchase alottery ticket and/or to verify the user's billing information. Forexample, the lottery system can submit to a third party certaininformation (e.g., name, address, age, driver's license number, socialsecurity number, and/or the like) collected from a potential lotteryticket purchaser, which can then verify that the user is the claimed ageand resides at the claimed address. The verification, or failurethereof, can then be transmitted back to the lottery system.

By way of further example, the lottery system may optionally access astate database of people who are not to be permitted to participate in alottery, and the lottery system can store an indication in its owncomputer memory not to sell lottery tickets to that user.

Optionally, the lottery system can limit online sales of lottery ticketsto users that have accounts with specific service providers, such asselected Internet service providers (ISPs). Thus, optionally, if a userhas an account with one of the selected ISPs, the user can opt-in to beable to purchase online lottery tickets, and can provide the ISP withthe user's characteristics or personal information (e.g., age,residency, etc.). The lottery system can then access and/or copy theinformation gathered and stored by the service provider in order todetermine if a user is able to purchase a lottery ticket for a givenlottery.

Optionally, the validation process is performed after determining that auser is a lottery winner. Thus, for example, a user may be allowed topurchase a lottery ticket without checking, or without as fullychecking, as to whether the user meets the lottery criteria (e.g., ageor residency). If the user is a lottery winner, then usercharacteristics (e.g. age or residency) can be checked before the useris paid the lottery winning, as described above, to determine if theuser meets the lottery rules. If the user does not meet the rulerequirements, then the user's right to participate in the lottery isinvalidated and the user is not paid the lottery winnings. Optionally,if invalidated, the user may be refunded the lottery ticket purchaseprice, or a portion thereof, and any associated delivery and/orprocessing fee is refunded as well. Optionally, if invalidated, the usermay be refunded the lottery ticket purchase price, or a portion thereof,and any associated delivery and/or processing fee is not refunded.Optionally, if invalidated, the user is not refunded the lottery ticketpurchase price, processing fee or delivery fee.

For example, the lottery system may also store lottery participationrules for one or more states. Because different states may havedifferent rules and lottery ticket participation criteria, the lotterysystem may permit a given user to participate in certain statelotteries, and not allow the user to participate in lotteries of certainother states, based on state lottery rules and/or applicable federalregulations, and certain user characteristics (age, residency, etc.).For example, if a user attempts to purchase a lottery ticket for a givenstate via an online process, the lottery system can check certain usercharacteristics against that state's rules. If the user does not satisfythe state's rules, the lottery system can refuse to accept the lotteryticket purchase, and can transmit a notification to the user as to thereason why the purchase offer was refused. In addition, the lotterysystem can optionally support multistate lotteries (e.g., the Powerballlottery). Optionally, the lottery system can check the user'scharacteristics (e.g., age, residency) against each one of the rules ofthe states participating in the multistate lottery, until adetermination is made that the user satisfies the rules of aparticipating state, as which point the user is validated to participatein the multistate lottery.

Optionally, the lottery system stores mapping data, including thelatitude and longitude of borders of state, countries, and so on. Thelottery system can also store data on locations within the state, suchas within a certain distance from the state border, wherein when certainlocation information is provided via a user terminal while at suchlocations, the lottery system can verify that the terminal is within thestate. In addition, the lottery system can store location informationfor retail lottery terminals within a given state.

Optionally, there may be limits placed on how many lottery tickets aparticular user can purchase, and/or limits on the amount a particularuser can spend on online lottery tickets within one or more time periods(e.g., per day, week, month, and/or year) or for a given lottery drawingor sale. The limit can also be based on historical purchase information.For example, if the user has purchased a certain average dollar amountover a given period of time, the user may be prevented from purchasingmore than a certain dollar amount of tickets in another period of timeunless an additional validation process is performed. The limits canoptionally be set by the user as part of the user account set-up, by thelottery system (e.g., in accordance with state rules or lottery systemrules), or by the user's credit card issuer, etc. Optionally, the usercan have a credit or prepaid amount associated with their lottery systemaccount and the user can optionally be allowed to use the total accountamount to purchase lottery tickets without the foregoing dollar amountrestrictions applying. Optionally, the amount can be automatically(e.g., on a periodic basis on in response to a trigger, such as theuser's account balance falling to a predefined threshold) or manuallyreplenished via a bank account, debit card, or credit card. Optionally,the lottery system can not make all or a portion of the account amountavailable for lottery ticket purchases for a predetermined amount oftime to prevent impulse or compulsive buying of lottery tickets.

Optionally, in order to reduce the incidence of losing lottery ticketpurchasers attempting to cancel credit card charges (a “chargeback”) forthe losing lottery ticket one or more of the following processes can beperformed:

1. Store in computer readable memory a maximum lottery ticket chargelimit per credit card. The lottery system then tracks the pendingcharges to the credit card for lottery tickets, and refuses furthercharges if such charges would result in the maximum lottery ticketcharge limit being exceeded.

2. The lottery system can track the number and/or amount of charges thathave been declined or charged backed by a user, and if the number and/oramount exceed a predetermined threshold (e.g., 0 chargeback events, 2chargeback events, $75 in charge backs, 0 declines, 3 declines, etc.)stored in computer readable memory, refuse further charges and/orfurther lottery ticket purchases.

3. The lottery system can track the number and/or amount of charges thathave been declined or charged backed by a user, and if the number and/oramount exceed a predetermined threshold (e.g., 0) stored in computerreadable memory, report the matter to an entity (e.g., a governmententity) for a fraud investigation. In addition, such thresholds can bedetermined statistically such that total net losses to the lotterysystem across all purchasers or a selected subset of purchases are setat a certain threshold.

If the user has a lottery system account, the user can opt-in, via alottery system user interface (e.g., a Web page form) or otherwise, tohave all or a predetermined amount or percentage of future lotterywinnings rolled over into another lottery (e.g., the next lottery) usingone or more of the betting methods described herein. The user canoptionally also specify that winnings are to be directly deposited inthe user's lottery system account, a specified bank account, moneymarket account, annuities account (e.g., the winner can select betweenhalf of the jackpot being paid immediately or the full jackpot paid outyearly over 20 years), or other account.

For example, optionally the user can specify that all or a percentage ofwinnings be deposited in an account associated with a merchant, such asa ticket seller (e.g., an entity that sells, on its on behalf and/or asan agent for others, tickets to sporting events, concerts, shows, fairs,other entertainment events, an entity that sells airplane, train, or bustickets, or other products or services). Optionally, a multiplier factorcan be applied (e.g., by the merchant or other entity) to the depositedamount (or to amounts deposited in an account associated with thelottery system) when used to purchase goods or services from themerchant or other authorized entity. For example, a multiplier of 1.1can be applied, wherein if $100 is deposited, and the user wishes to usethe $100 to purchase an item, such as a ticket, from the merchant, themerchant will treat the $100 as $110. Similarly, the merchant canprovide a price reduction expressed as a discount (e.g., a 10% or otherdiscount) for purchases made using lottery funds. Optionally, inaddition to or instead of such price reductions, priority (e.g., theright to purchase before an item is offered for sale to the generalpublic, the right to purchase more of an item than the general public,etc.) with respect to certain purchases (e.g., tickets to concerts orsporting events) can be given to a user registered with the lotterysystem, and/or to a user that is using lottery winnings deposited in adesignated account to make purchases of the item to which priority isbeing given.

In order to purchase a lottery ticket online via the lottery system, theuser may optionally be required to log into the lottery system. The usermay be asked to provide a user identification and/or password to log inand to enable the lottery system to locate the user's accountinformation. Optionally, the user may be issued an authentication device(e.g., hardware and/or software) which the user needs to couple to theuser's computer in order to identify the user to the lottery system. Forexample, the user may be given an authentication device (e.g., anelectronic key, smart card, etc.) that includes solid state memorystoring encrypted identification and other related information. Theauthentication device may further optionally include a computer portinterface (e.g., a USB or Firewire port) via which the user couples theauthentication device to the user's computer. While logging in, theuser's computer can transmit the encrypted information to the lotterysystem and the user will then be logged in and the user's accountinformation located and retrieved.

Optionally, the lottery system can request that the user providebiometric information (e.g., voice, retina, fingerprint information) inorder to log in and/or purchase a lottery ticket. For example, thelottery system may transmit a prompt to the user's computer instructingthe user to speak one or more letters, words, and/or numbers into theuser's computer microphone. Once the user performs the correspondingvocalization, the computer converts the user's voice into digitalinformation and transmits it to the lottery system via VoIP, as an emailattachment, or otherwise, and the lottery system can authenticate theuser.

Optionally, the user's location can be determined as part of thevalidation process (performed as part of a login, when a purchase isrequested, during a payment or checkout process, or at other times). Forexample, if a state mandates that a lottery buyer be present in thestate and not in specified Federally-controlled land within a state,such as Indian reservations and certain waterways, while buying alottery ticket online, the lottery system operator (or other entity) canprovide a GPS module (e.g., in the form of a secure dongle that plugsinto a computer terminal interface, such as a USB, Expresscard,Firewire, or other interface) and/or GPS-related software thattransmits, via the computer and over a network (e.g., the Internet) thelocation (and/or data via which the location can be determined) of thecomputer terminal being used to make the purchase. In this exampleembodiment, a lottery ticket will not be sold by the system if theterminal is outside of the authorized region.

In addition or alternatively, if the lottery ticket purchase is beingmade via a cellular, mobile phone, the approximate location of themobile phone can be determined via data from the GPS receiver embeddedin the phone or data from the cell antenna tower (or towers) via whichthe mobile phone is communicating when ordering the lottery ticket(e.g., within 150-50 meters, or less). For example, triangulation frommultiple towers can provide fairly precise location data. In certainsituations (e.g., where the user mobile phone is communicating via anantenna on or very close to the state border) it may be difficult totell in which state the user mobile phone is located. Optionally, two ormore methods may be used to identify a user location. For example, thesystem may receive a GPS reading (e.g., from a user terminal, such as acomputer or cell phone equipped with a GPS receiver) and cell phonelocation information for a user, and use both types of information toverify that the user is located in an authorized location. Similarly,the system may receive a GPS reading and an IP address associated with auser terminal, and use both types of information to verify that the useris located in an authorized location.

Optionally, to the extent the location data is ambiguous or there isuncertainty regarding whether the computer terminal or phone is in aauthorized location (e.g., within the borders of a state associated withthe lottery), such as might occur in an area along the state border (abuffer area, such as 100 meters, 500 meters, 1000 meters, or 2000 metersfrom a state border, or from a localized portion of a state border), alottery ticket will not be sold by the system in response to an orderplaced via the terminal or phone. Optionally, the lottery system cantransmit a notification to the user indicating that the system has notbeen able to verify the user's location, and notifying the user that theuser can try again when the user is at another location within theauthorized state. Similarly, if the user's location is determined to beoutside of the authorized location, or the user's location cannot bedetermined at all (e.g., if there is no GPS reception and/or no cellphone network coverage), a notification to that effect can betransmitted to the user's terminal, further advising the user to tryagain when the user is at another location (e.g., within the authorizedlocation) [covered in 44].

Optionally, the notification can provide the user with specific orgeneral directions to a location (e.g., an address, such as that of astore, restaurant, or coffee shop (e.g., paying an affiliation fee tothe lottery system operator or state or optionally not paying such afee), an intersection, a general direction, such as “move 500 feetwest”, etc.) where the system can, or is likely to be able to verifythat the user is within the authorized state. Optionally, a map can betransmitted or otherwise provided to the user terminal, with variouslocations within the authorized state emphasized (e.g., by color, orgraphical push pin). Optionally, one or more emphasized locations can beidentified as having a co-located lottery terminal (e.g., a fixedterminal, optionally, with lottery ticket printing capabilities). Forexample, the map and/or listing of locations can optionally identifythose locations within an approximate specified distance of the userterminal (e.g., within 1 mile, 5 miles, etc.) and/or that are within thesame zip code as the terminal's current estimated location/

The lottery system can process a variety of lottery types and user bets(e.g., wherein the user purchases a lottery ticket with an associatednumber, alphanumeric, or other combination, wherein lottery winners arethose whose combination corresponds to those pulled or otherwiseselected in a lottery drawing), optionally including one or more of thefollowing:

1. User bet wins on N numbers or less (e.g., 6 numbers wins the largejackpot, 5 wins less, 4 wins even less, 2 doesn't win, etc.)

2. User bet wins on exactly N numbers, with a higher jackpot amount.This bet is similar to “Bet wins on N numbers or less”, except, forexample, the user forgoes the chance of winning on 4 or 5 numbers infavor of a potentially larger 6 number jackpot based on a share of the 4and 5 number winners who opted out of winning anything but the jackpot.

3. Bets representing groups of individuals with shares. The lotterysystem provides a user interface enabling groups of individuals toregister as a group, each one contributing a certain amount of money. Agroup leader may be appointed that identifies group members and selectsor provides a group name via an electronic form. The group members pooltheir bets and the lottery system automatically splits winnings based ondollars contributed or the percentage to the total contributed by agiven group member. Advantageously, this can prevent cheating by a groupmember or leader. Optionally, different group members can contributedifferent amounts for a given bet. For example, each group member mayoptionally be able to specify via a lottery system Web form an amount tobe contributed to a group lottery purchase, and optionally a groupmember can remove their group membership. Optionally, the lottery systemreports the amount of federal and/or state tax owed by each group memberand/or optionally causes tax to be withheld from a corresponding lotterypayout.

4. Numbers selected by the user, wherein the user selects the numbersthe user is betting on to win the lottery.

5. Numbers selected randomly by the lottery system or government lotterysystem.

6. Numbers selected by the lottery system or government lottery system(as requested by the user) to enhance or maximize individual pay-out(e.g., numbers least used by other users in combination for a givenlottery or a given group of lotteries).

7. The lottery system or government lottery system chooses numbers (asrequested by the user) for the user based on bets placed in the lotteryso far. For example, number combinations that are more likely to beselected by many users may be avoided (e.g., numbers that correspond tothe date of the lottery may be less desirable bets, because if they winthey end up being more heavily bet upon by many users, with the winningsshared).

The lottery system can support different lottery jackpot sizedeterminations, optionally including one or more of the following:

1. Jackpot size is based on total number of tickets purchased and/ortotal dollar value of tickets purchased.

2. A multiplier is applied to the jackpot based on total number of nonidentical tickets a given user purchased. The multiplier can be selectedto act as an incentive to increase sales and lottery profits.Optionally, the value of increased sales from this incentive is splitbetween the state (or other lottery host) and purchaser(s). For example,a certain larger jackpot bonus or boost can be contributed to thejackpot (and eventually paid) when the ticket sales for a given lotteryreaches or exceeds a first threshold.

Optionally, emails, SMS communications, instant messaging, Web pages, orother communications mediums, can be used to provide user notificationswhen a jackpot reaches or exceeds a certain level and/or when thejackpot increases a certain amount (e.g., wherein the user can specifyor select the level or increase amounts that will trigger such acommunication via the user's account preferences).

The lottery system may provide a home page that provides information onupcoming or ongoing lotteries. For example, one or more incrementingtickers can be presented displaying the current jackpots ofcorresponding lotteries. A link can be provided on the home page,wherein the user is instructed to click on the link if the user wants toreceive notifications when the jackpot size exceeds a certain threshold.Further links can be provided to purchase tickets for differentlotteries.

Optionally, a user can specify, via their account set-up or otherwise,that bets (and associated ticket purchases) are to be automaticallyplaced by the lottery system on behalf of the user when the jackpotmeets and/or exceeds a certain threshold. For example, the user canspecify the number of lottery tickets to be automatically purchased, howthe numbers are to be selected (using for example, one or more of thebetting techniques described herein), the threshold at which the lotteryticket purchase is to be performed, and/or the lotteries for which theautomatic bets are to be placed (e.g., which state lotteries, whichmultistate lotteries, which country lotteries, etc.). The foregoinginstructions can be stored in a user account database (e.g., themember/transaction database 142 described below).

Optionally, each lottery ticket can have an associated unique identifier(e.g., an alphanumeric code, a serial number, a bar code, a digitaland/or visual watermark, etc.). The unique identifier can be generatedor selected by the lottery system, without having to have the state orother government entity provide such unique identifier. Alternatively,the unique identifiers may be provided by another entity (e.g., aseparate company, a government entity, etc.). If the lottery systemgenerates the unique identifiers, optionally, the unique identifiers canbe provided to a government entity (e.g., a state), or to a separatecompany or entity to use for selecting a lottery winner and/or for auditpurposes. Optionally, the lottery system transmits betting informationto a government entity (e.g., a state), including one or more of lotteryticket purchaser information (e.g., ticket purchaser name or otheridentifier), combinations chosen by corresponding lottery purchasers,and/or ticket identification information.

The actual drawing of the winning combination can be performed manuallyor electronically by the lottery system, a government entity (e.g., astate), or other entity. A verification process can be performed forwinners. For example, optionally the validation process described abovecan be performed after a purchaser is determined to be a winner.Optionally, an initial validation process can be performed before a userpurchases a lottery ticket, and a more extensive validation process isperformed if the user's ticket becomes a winning ticket. The list ofwinners can be generated by the state, the lottery system, or a thirdparty. If the state generates the list of winners (e.g., using lotteryticket and betting information provided by the lottery system, and/orunique ticket identifiers generated by the state or the lottery system),the state (via a state computer system) can electronically provide thelist to the lottery system. If the lottery system generates the list ofwinners (e.g., using lottery ticket and betting information stored bythe lottery system, and/or unique ticket identifiers generated by thestate or the lottery system), the lottery system can electronicallyprovide the list to the state (via a state computer). Optionally, a listof losing betters can be similarly generated. Winning notifications(e.g., via email, SMS, instant messaging, a Web page, etc.) canoptionally be provided to winning users by the lottery system or by agovernment entity (e.g., a state). Losing notifications can optionallybe provided to losing users by the lottery system or by a governmententity (e.g., a state). In addition, a publicly available Web page canlist the winning combinations. Lottery jackpots can optionally beprovided to winning users by the lottery system or by a governmententity (e.g., a state).

The lottery process can be audited by the state and/or the lotterysystem operator based on lottery information (e.g., ticket purchaserinformation, ticket identifiers, payments received, etc.).

The lottery system optionally stores in a database, or other data store,historical information on a given user's purchases, and can display thehistorical information to the given user. For example, a user accountWeb page can display a table listing some or all of the following: thelotteries the user has purchased tickets for, the number of ticketspurchased by the user for each lottery, the dollar value of the ticketspurchased per lottery, the combinations bet on for each lottery ticketpurchased, the winnings (if any) per lottery and/or per lottery ticket,the lottery status (e.g., open, closed, ended, etc), whether the ticketwas purchased as part of a group (and if so, the name of the group, andthe percentage stake the user had in the group), the total number oftickets bought for all lotteries by the user (and/or the total number oftickets purchased by the user for a selected period of time or for thelast selected number of lotteries), and the total dollar value of thelottery tickets bought for all lotteries by the user (and/or the totaldollar value of tickets purchased by the user for a selected period oftime or for the last selected number of lotteries). The foregoinginformation can be limited to that corresponding to a selected period oftime.

As previously discussed, optionally, a group or syndicate can be formedwherein group members own a share or percentage of a bet. Optionally,the user can create a group or syndicate by registering a group name andpassword. Optionally, the user can designate group members by the useror group member manually registering a group member. Optionally, a usercan send out invitations, optionally with the group name and/orpassword, via the lottery system to invite others to join a group. Theinvitation can include a link to a registration Web page on the lotterysystem. The registration Web page can include a group name and apassword field into which the invitee would input the user name, groupname, and/pr password to join the group.

For example, the lottery system can identify contacts in the user'sdatabase that are registered users of the lottery system. Those contactscan be presented to the user via a Web page, and the user can select(e.g., by clicking a check box associated with a given contact) whichcontacts are to receive an invitation. Optionally, registered users ofthe lottery system can opt-in to receiving invitations or informationregarding groups seeking members. Optionally, those users that do notopt-in will not receive such invitations. A user managing orestablishing a group can specify that invitations are to be sent tothose users, or a selected subset thereof, that have opted in to receivesuch invitations. An invitation can be in the form of an email, an SMSmessage, a Web page, by way of example. If an invitee accepts theinvitation (e.g., by clicking on an “accept” link in the invitation orin a Web page accessed via a link in the invitation) the invitee will berecorded in a lottery system database as a member of the group and theuser will optionally be notified of the acceptance.

Optionally, a user can specify preferences with respect tocharacteristics (which can be specified as desired or required) ofpotential group members. For example, a user can specify that the userwould prefer potential group members to live within the same city as theuser, are authorized to purchase lottery tickets in one or morespecified states or countries, spend at least a specified amount onlottery tickets (or at least an average amount, or at least a minimumamount a specified percentage of the time) within a given time period(e.g. a week), spend no more than a specified amount on lottery tickets(or no more than an average amount, or no more than a specified amount aspecified percentage of the time) within a given time period.

By way of further example, the user can specify that it is desired ormandatory that potential group members tend to, or only make certaintypes of bets (e.g., bets on a certain quantity of numbers). By way offurther example, the user can specify that it is desired or mandatorythat potential group members have won at least a specified number oftimes and/or more than a specified amount of money (optionally, in aspecified time period) with respect to lottery records available to thelottery system. Optionally, the user can also specify that it is desiredor mandatory that potential group members have a prepaid account forpurchasing lottery tickets, or that the potential group members utilizeone or more specified types of financial instruments to fund lotteryticket purchases. Optionally, the user can also specify that it isdesired or mandatory that potential group members are fans of aparticular sport, sports team, music, and/or musical performer, or havespecified hobbies.

Based on the user specified preferences and/or requirements, the lotterysystem can automatically present to the user a list. (or other format)of potential group members (e.g., with their actual names or withnicknames/aliases), wherein the list is ordered or otherwise indicateswhich potential group members more closely match the user's specifiedpreferences and/or requirements. Optionally, if the user specifiedcertain requirements, other users that do not meet those requirementswill not be included in the list of potential group members.

In addition or instead, optionally, the lottery system can examine auser's past betting history (e.g., the amount, frequency, types of betsand/or winnings), the user's eligibility to purchase lottery ticketsfrom different entities (e.g., states or national entities), and basedon one or more of the user's past betting history, winning history, andeligibility, locate other registered user's with similarcharacteristics. The lottery system can optionally automatically presentto the user a list of potential group members, wherein the list isordered or otherwise indicates which potential group members moreclosely match the user's characteristics.

Optionally, based on the user's past betting history, winnings, and/oreligibility, and, optionally, the current or predicted value of thejackpots for other lotteries, the lottery system can recommend lotteriesthat the user is qualified for and/or might be interested in. Forexample, the lottery system can use collaborative filtering, wherein aprediction is made as to which lotteries a user may be interested inbased, in whole or in part, on the lottery ticket purchases made byother consumers that have similar purchase histories as the user.Optionally, other criteria can be used in performing the collaborativefiltering (e.g., ticket purchases of tickets to a given type of sportingevent, to sporting events associated with a particular team, to a giventype of concert event, to concerts associated with a particularperformer) made by the user and by others.

Optionally, the lottery system can store and provide a lottery set-upform. For example, the lottery set-up form can be stored in the lotterysystem and transmitted, in the form of HTML code or otherwise, to alottery set-up person's (also referred to as a lottery administrator)terminal. The lottery set-up form can optionally include one or more ofthe following fields:

Lottery identifier or name;

Lottery start date:

Lottery end date;

Lottery drawing date;

Date information regarding lottery is to be placed for online access bythe public;

A list of types of bets, wherein the lottery set-up person can selectone or more bet-types that will be permitted in the lottery;

Maximum number of characters or indicia (e.g., alphanumeric characters)allowed in a combination;

Maximum number of tickets a user can buy for the lottery;

Annuity pay-out option;

Starting number of alphanumeric string to be used for first lotteryticket; and/or

Lottery ticket Identifier increment (e.g., increase previous number oralphanumeric string by “N”).

Once the lottery set-up person provides the appropriate lottery setupinstructions, the instructions can be stored in a system database forlater use when running the lottery.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system embodiment that can be used inconjunction with the lotteries and processes described herein. Not allof the illustrated systems and components need to be included in thelottery system, and other systems and architectures can be used as well.With reference to FIG. 1, the lottery system includes a user terminal102 coupled to an example lottery system (“lottery system”) 104 over theInternet 105 using HTTP/HTTPS. An example web proxy system 106 includesan optional load balancer 108 and web proxy processors 110, and canselectively block or route an inbound request from a user browserexecuting on the terminal 102 to an appropriate internal destination,which can be a queue or other destination server.

The illustrated example lottery system 104 includes example Webapplication system 112, which includes an optional load balancer 114 andWeb application processors 116. A general transaction system 118includes an optional load balancer 120 and transaction processors 122that are used to generate transactional pages, populate data caches,provide logic and/or rules for the transaction flows, and to sequencerequests. A cache cluster system 124 includes an optional load balancer126 and processors 128. The cache cluster system 124 caches data andstates for quick access by other system components.

An example lottery processor system 130 is provided that includes anoptional load balancer 132 and lottery processors 134. The examplelottery processors 134 conduct and/or manage the lotteries, keep trackof lottery tickets, the status of lotteries, the current purchasers, thelottery jackpots, the purchase rate, and so on. In addition, the lotteryprocessor 130 can optionally assign a unique identifier (e.g., generatedby the lottery system or by a third party), to each ticket and canassociate the identifier with the lottery ticket purchaser. The lotteryprocessor system 130 can also verify if a user meets the lotterypurchaser criteria (e.g., age, residency) access from the membertransaction repository database 142. The use of load balancers andmultiple lottery processors can enable the lottery to continue,potentially with little or no performance impact, even if a lotterysystem component (e.g., a processor 134) fails. 104. For example, if alottery processor fails, lottery processes that were performed by thefailed lottery processor are optionally directed via the load balancerto another lottery processor. A session cluster system 136 includes anoptional load balancer 138 and a plurality of processors 140 and is usedto manage sessions.

A member transaction repository database 142 stores user identificationinformation, age, residency, contact information, billing information,preferences, account status, winnings rollover instructions, lotteryeligibility status, lottery group membership data, and the like, thatcan be accessed by other portions of the lottery system 104. Inaddition, the database 142 can store an opt-in indication, wherein theuser has agreed to have certain lottery tickets/bets be automaticallypurchased when certain user specified or selected conditions (e.g., thejackpot size) occur. The database 142 can also store a user opt-in fornotifications regarding lotteries, lottery status, invitations to joinlottery purchase groups, or the like. The database 142 can also store ahistory of a user's lottery ticket purchases (e.g., lottery identifiers,the states associated with a given lottery, the amount purchased, thetypes of bets, the combinations selected, the amount won, etc.).

An example database 148 is provided that stores one or more of seller(e.g., lottery operator, state, federal government, etc.) rules,purchaser eligibility criteria, information on the lottery (e.g., thetypes of bets, the types of combinations, maximum number of lotterytickets a purchaser can buy, etc.), the date the lottery ends, etc. Thedatabase 148 can optionally store mapping data, including the latitudeand longitude of borders of one or more states, or other entity whereinthe boarders indicate where certain lottery sales are authorized. Thedatabase 148 optionally stores data (e.g., latitude, longitude, whetherthe location has a retail lottery terminal, whether the location haspaid a fee for certain prominence/advertising rights) on locationswithin the state, such as within a certain distance from the stateborder, wherein when certain location information is provided via a userterminal (e.g., a mobile phone and/or a GPS receiver-equipped terminal)while at such locations, the lottery system can verify that the terminalis within the state. Optionally, a user location can also be determinedusing an IP address associated with the user. For example, a geolocationprogram executed by the system is optionally used that determines thelikely physical location of an Internet visitor using routing trails andIP addresses.

A host network system 150 is provided that handles credit cardprocessing, delivery of lottery tickets, and so on.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example process for receiving and verifyingidentification/residency information (e.g., including name, age,residential address, work address, billing address, email address,mobile phone number, regular phone number, credit card number and/orexpiration date, etc.) for a potential lottery ticket purchaser. Atstate 202, the information can be received as similarly discussed above.The information can be received by the lottery system, a governmentalentity, or other entity. By way of illustration, the potential purchasercan manually provide some or all of the identification information(e.g., via an online Web form) and/or the potential purchaser canprovide credentials (e.g., copies or certified copies of a birthcertificate, a social security card, a driver's license, a governmentalidentity card, a passport, a bill mailed to the purchaser, etc.) via themail, at a physical outlet, or electronically over a network.Optionally, the identification/residency documents can be scanned in orelectronically read and stored in computer readable memory.

At state 204, some or all of the information received at state 202 isverified. For example, based on billing information provided by a user,the lottery system can automatically access from one or more public,governmental, or private third party databases the user's residence,age, etc., in order to validate that the user is eligible to purchase alottery ticket and/or to verify the user's billing information. By wayof further example, the lottery system can submit to a third partycertain information (e.g., name, address, age, driver's license number,social security number, citizenship and/or the like). The third partycan then verify that the potential purchaser is the claimed age andresides or works at the claimed address. The verification, or failurethereof, can then be transmitted back to the lottery system and storedin computer readable memory. Optionally, the verification failure, andsome or all of the information provided by the user (e.g., name, contactinformation, residency, etc.) can be transmitted to a government entity.If the potential purchaser information is validated and meets certaincriteria (e.g., state and/or lottery system criteria, such as age,residence, and/or work location), a user account is opened. Optionally,even if some or all of the identification information is not validated,a user account can be created, but the user may be prevented frompurchasing certain or all categories of lottery tickets.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example lottery related process. At state302, the lottery system receives a lottery ticket purchase request. Therequest can specify, by way of example, and the number of lotterytickets desired, the type(s) of bet(s) the user wants to make.

Referring to state 304, optionally, before or after providing thelottery purchase request, the user logs into the system (e.g., bymanually or automatically providing identification information, such asa user ID, password, digital key, and/or one or more biometricidentifiers). Optionally, location data for the user terminal (e.g., apersonal computer, an interactive television, a mobile phone) will betransmitted directly or indirectly to the lottery system (e.g., by theterminal or a device that is coupled (via a wired or wirelessconnection) to the terminal, such as a cellular tower). If the useridentity is not verified, a notification is transmitted back to the userterminal so informing the user. The user can optionally try to log inagain.

At state 306, the lottery system locates account information verifiesthat the user meets eligibility rules stored in the lottery system orotherwise accessed. Optionally, certain information, such as thebiometric information, is compared with biometric information stored inassociation with the user's account, to verify the user identity. Theeligibility rules can be set by the lottery system operator, the stateor country associated with the lottery (e.g., in the case of amulti-state lottery, optionally rules set by one or more of the statesand/or the rules of any single state participating in the multi-statelottery), the federal or national government, and/or other entity. Forexample, the rules can relate to residency and/or age. If the useridentity is not verified, at state 316 a notification is transmittedback to the user terminal so informing the user.

At state 308, the lottery system optionally determines if the user is ona “list” (e.g., in a database) of those who are specifically noteligible to purchase a lottery ticket (e.g., a blacklist) and/or forwhom a notification related to the lottery purchase request is to beprovided to a third party (e.g., such as a federal, state, or citygovernment agency or a private entity). For example, the system canaccess over a network (e.g., the Internet, an intranet, a virtualprivate network, or other network) one or more remote blacklistdatabases (e.g., federal, state, city, or a private entity databases) orlocal blacklist databases. If user identification information matchesthat on a blacklist, appropriate action is taken. For example,optionally a notification is transmitted back to the user terminalinforming the user that the user is on a blacklist and that the userorder is not accepted. Optionally instead, the user is not notified thatthe user is on a blacklist and the order is, or appears to the user tobe, accepted and a notification related to the order (e.g., includinguser provided identification information, contact information, and orderinformation) is manually or automatically provided to a governmentand/or private entity.

At state 310, a determination is optionally made as to whether the userorder satisfies one or more rules. For example, a rule can be set (e.g.,by the system operator, user, governmental entity, and/or issuer offinancial instrument, such as a credit card, used to fund an order) fora selected user, a selected set of users, or for all users, regardingthe frequency of lottery ticket purchases within a given time period,the quantity of lottery ticket purchases within a given time period,and/or the dollar value of lottery ticket purchases (e.g., for a givenlottery, for a given purchase event, and/or within a given period).

Thus, for example, a rule can be set preventing a user from purchasingmore than a specified dollar amount of lottery tickets (e.g., for agiven state, group of states, and/or any states; or for a given lottery)within a specified period. This rule can be used to better ensure that auser does not overspend on lottery tickets. Similarly, a rule can be setlimiting a user from purchasing more than a specified quantity oflottery tickets (e.g., for a given state, group of states, and/or anystates; or for a given lottery) within a specified period. If one ormore rules are not satisfied, a notification is transmitted back to theuser terminal at state 316 so informing the user and optionallyinforming the user how to adjust the user order so that it satisfies therules.

At state 312, a determination is made as to whether the user's order isaccepted, or not (e.g., for one of the reasons discussed above, becausethe user has exceeded a chargeback threshold, because the user'sfinancial instrument limit has been exceeded, because the user has hadmore than a threshold number of credit card charges declined, or forother reasons). If the order is not accepted, at state 316, anotification informing the user of the purchase disapproval is providedto the user via the user terminal. If the user's order is accepted (oris to appear as accepted), at state 314 a lottery “ticket”,confirmation, and/or receipt is optionally issued to the user. Thelottery ticket can optionally be in the form of a downloadable orotherwise printable ticket, confirmation, receipt, that includes theuser's bet (e.g., the numbers or alphanumeric characters selected by theusers), a lottery ticket number, and/or the user's name (and/or the nameof an associated syndication group and optionally the percentage shareeach group member has).

At state 318, the lottery system or other entity (e.g., a state ornational government or an agent thereof) selects one or more lotterywinners. The lottery system or other entity compares the winning data(e.g., the winning numbers) against bets made by users and determineswho is a winner. At state 320, a notification is sent to winners,optionally via a method specified by the winners in their accountconfiguration or otherwise (e.g., by one or more of email, SMS message,Web page, etc.). Optionally, at state 322, a notification is sent tolosers, optionally via a method specified by the winners in the accountsetup or otherwise. Optionally, a user that has purchased more than onelottery ticket can be both a winner and a loser.

At state 324, the winnings are provided to the winner as per thewinner's account configuration or in accordance with the winner'sinstructions received after the notification was sent to the winner atstate 320. For example, the winnings can be transmitted to the winner asa check, deposited in a specified account (as similarly discussedabove), or the winnings can be rolled over into another lottery.

Portions of the winnings can be distributed differently. For example,the state, the winner, the lottery system operator, and/or other entitycan set up one or more rules, stored in the lottery system memory,defining how winnings to a given winner are to be processed. Forexample, a user can specify that any winnings up to a certain dollaramount are to be automatically deposited in a first account, and thatdeposits over that first amount are to be automatically deposited in asecond account. The state can set up a rule, which is optionallyconfigured to override in whole or in part, user defined rules, whichspecifies that for any winnings over a second amount, the winner must goto a state office or a specified agent of the state in order to pick upa physical check and/or to provide identification verificationinformation (e.g., a driver license, a tax bill, a utility bill, etc.).For example, if a user specified the first amount as $600, and the statespecified the second amount as $10,001, then the first $600 would beautomatically deposited in the first account, the next $9400 would beautomatically deposited into the second account, and for any additionalamount, the user would go to a state office or an agent of the state toarrange for the remaining payment.

Similarly, a rule can specify that a first percentage of winnings beprocessed in a first manner, and a second percentage be processed inanother manner.

At state 326, selected other lotteries are optionally recommend to theuser, as similarly discussed above (e.g., wherein the lottery systempredicts the user may be interested in the selected other lotteriesbased on the user's eligibility, the user's past purchase history, theuser's past winnings, the current value/jackpots of other lotteries,and/or collaborative filtering). Optionally, other items, such astickets for events (e.g., sporting events, concerts, show, movies, etc.)can be recommended to the user based on user preferences and/orcollaborative filtering. The user preferences may have been directlyspecified by user via a form, such as a Web page form, accessed duringuser's account set-up/maintenance, via a survey form, via a specificrequest by the user for information about an item (e.g., regarding anevent, performer, or artist), via a request for notification when aspecific item will be available (e.g., when a specific event will occur,or a team or artist will be performing in an area in which the userlives), and/or derived from past item purchase histories. Optionally,ticketed events may be selected based, in part, on the amount of theuser's recent lottery winnings (e.g., winnings of which the user wasnotified the day the recommendations are provided or within a certaintime period relative to the notification, such as a week) or winningsremaining in one or more user's accounts (e.g., an account associatedwith the lottery system, etc.) and on ticket prices (including orexcluding shipping, handling, and service fees). For example, arecommendation can be provided for one or more events that have ticketprices no greater than the user's recent lottery winnings, such as theamount just won by the user (which may be in the form of a share of awinning group or syndicate). Optionally, a recommendation canspecifically recommend a ticket for an event at a specific price orwithin a specific price range based on the recent winnings or winningson deposit. By way of further example, a recommendation can be providedfor event tickets that are no more than a certain specified amount or nomore than a specified percentage above the user's recent winnings orwinnings on account (e.g., 0% more, 10% more, or 15% more), andoptionally at least a certain specified amount or percentage beneath theuser's recent winnings or winnings on account (e.g., 0% less, 20% less,or 80% less, etc.).

For example, if the item is an event ticket, historical purchaseinformation can be accessed from a local database and/or a databaseassociated with a ticket issuer or other entity. For example, thehistorical purchase information can be related to the events for whichtickets were purchased by the user, optionally including theperformer/team, the ticket price, the number of times the user haspurchased tickets for a given performer/team, the timing or dates ofprior ticket purchases, etc. Optionally, the item recommendation can beprovided via the same notification (e.g., the same Web page or email) asthe notification regarding the user being a lottery winner. Optionally,the notification can include a “buy” control (e.g., a link or button)which, when activated will cause the item to be added to the user'selectronic shopping cart or cause the purchase to be made immediately.Optionally, a control is provided via which the user can indicate thatsome or all of the lottery winnings be applied to the item purchase.Optionally, the notification will inform the user that a price reductionwill occur if the user applied lottery winnings to the purchase.Optionally, the notification will provide a link to another userinterface (e.g., a Web page) which will provide more information aboutthe item, and via which the item can be purchased or added to the user'sshopping cart.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example lottery process. At state 402,lottery ticket identifiers are generated and/or set-up. For example, astarting number or seed can be specified, and an algorithm (e.g.,increment number by 1 for next lottery ticket) selected or specified.Optionally, instead, a large number of identifiers can be generated,which will be assigned to lottery tickets as they are purchased. Lotteryticket, as used herein, is not restricted to a physical ticket, and caninclude a lottery identifier or token stored in computer memory. Thelottery ticket identification generation can be performed by anon-governmental entity (e.g., a company via the lottery systemdescribed above) or a governmental entity (e.g., a state or federalentity using the lottery system described above or a different system).

If the ticket identification generation is performed by anon-governmental entity, then optionally, at state 404, the lotteryticket identifiers are transmitted to a governmental entity. At state406, lottery purchaser information (e.g., some or all of the following:the purchaser name, other identifier, physical mailing and/or billingaddress, email address, number of tickets purchased, purchase amount,financial instrument, such as credit card number, used to fund purchase,etc.) is optionally transmitted to one or more governmental entities. Atstate 408, lottery winners are selected (e.g., by a governmental ornon-governmental entity). At state 410, winner identification isoptionally transmitted (e.g., by the governmental entity to the lotterysystem if the governmental entity selected the winners, or by thenon-governmental entity to a governmental entity if the non-governmentalentity selected the winners).

FIG. 5 illustrates an example process for providing a user withinformation on how to proceed to a location where the user's locationcan be verified as being within an authorized area (e.g., wherein theauthorized area is a city, state(s), or country) for buying a lotteryticket to a given lottery. At state 502, a determination is made thatthe user's location is sufficiently ambiguous that a determination hasnot been that the user is within and/or not within an authorized areafor purchasing a lottery ticket for a selected lottery. For example, theuser's general location may have been determined or received by thesystem, but without sufficient accuracy and/or resolution to determinewhether the user is within the authorized area (as might be the case ifthe user is right next to, or standing on the area border).

At state 504, one or more potential alternative locations are selectedor identified that are within the authorized area. For example, thelocations can be selected using mapping software from a database thatstores location and mapping information. The locations are optionallyselected based at least in part on the distance from the user terminalor the zip code in which the user terminal is currently located. Forexample, optionally only locations within a certain distance from theuser (e.g., 0.5 miles, 1 mile, 2 miles, 5 miles, etc.) are selected,wherein the distance can be measured in a straight line from the user,via the shortest route on a paved road, or via a shortest route using arouting preference specified by the user in the user's accountconfiguration (e.g., shortest route, quickest route, route that usesfreeways/highways, route that avoids freeways/highways). Optionally, ifthe nearest location from the user is more than a specified amount(e.g., 10 miles), a selection is not performed. Optionally, if theuser's location cannot be adequately determined, the system will accessthe user's address information stored in the user's account record,identify the locations of retail lottery terminals within the same zipcode and/or within a certain distance of that address (e.g., 5 miles),and transmit a list of those identified retail lottery terminals and/ora mapping of the identified retail lottery terminals, to the userterminal.

At state 506, information (e.g., address, distance, map, description,etc.) on one or more of the locations identified at state 504 istransmitted to the user's terminal (e.g., via a Web page, an email, orotherwise). The ordering of the locations is optionally based on one ormore of the following:

-   -   distance from user (where those closer to the user tend to be        listed relatively higher up)    -   whether the location is equipped with a lottery terminal (e.g. a        fixed, retail lottery terminal)    -   the location type (e.g., roadside location, a restaurant, a        ticket outlet for event tickets, a supermarket, a sundry store,        a gas station, a bookstore, etc.)    -   whether an entity associated with a location has paid a fee or        has agreed to pay a fee for a preferential listing (e.g., a        higher listing, and/or a listing highlighted by color, bolding,        placement, animation, or otherwise)

Optionally, as similarly discussed above, if user's location cannot bedetermined or cannot be adequately determined, the system will identifylottery terminals within a certain distance of the address stored in theuser's account record (e.g., a home address or a business address)and/or within the same zip code.

Optionally, a similar process can be performed if the system determinesthat the user is outside of an authorized area. For example, if thesystem determines that the user is outside of an authorized area butwithin a certain distance (e.g., 0.5 miles, 1 mile, 2 miles, 5 miles,etc.) of the authorized area (or within a certain distance of a specificportion of the authorized area, such as a portion with a road or town),a notification can be transmitted to the user terminal informing theuser that the user is outside of the authorized area and providinginformation (e.g., an address, intersection, a map, and/or directions)on one or more locations within the authorized area.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example notification, such as that provided atstate 506 illustrated in FIG. 5. A message area 602 includes a messagethat informs the user that the system could not verify that the user waswithin an authorized location (the state of Illinois in this example),and that the user needs to be within the authorized location in order topurchase a ticket for the lottery as per the user's lottery ticket orderrequest. A message area 604 includes a message that informs the userthat if the user proceeds to a listed location, the system should beable or is likely to be able to verify the user's location within theauthorized area and that the user can then proceed to purchase therequested lottery ticket. A listing of locations is provided, which inthis example, includes the location name, address, distance from theuser, and a map link. An indication is also provided that a givenlocation has a co-located lottery terminal, with the listing emphasizedin bold. At map area 606, a map of the area, including some or all ofthe listed locations, is provided, with the listed areas optionallyhighlighted (e.g., by color, a number, a circle, a graphical push pin,animation, an icon, etc.).

FIG. 7 illustrates an example lottery winning notification. Thenotification can be transmitted, by way of example, via a Web page (ordivided over several Web pages), email, or otherwise. A message 702informs the recipient that the recipient has made a winning selection,and displays the amount won. A list box (or other interface) lists aselection of accounts and/or winning handling instructions. For example,the list can include account identifiers for accounts that the recipienthad previously specified (e.g., by providing account names and numbersvia the user's account set-up/maintenance user interface), an option todeposit the winnings in a default account previously specified by theuser (“Follow Account Instructions”), an option to add a new account,and an option to rollover the winnings into another lottery. A submitbutton is provided which, when activated, will cause the user'sselection to be transmitted to, and executed by the lottery system.

One or more lotteries are listed at area 706. The lotteries may havebeen selected based in whole or in part on the user's eligibility,preferences and/or using collaborative filtering, as described elsewhereherein. The lotteries are optionally listed using links that, whenclicked on, causes a Web page (or other user interface) to be presentedvia which the user can make a bet and purchase a lottery ticket for thecorresponding lottery. The ordering (or other emphasis) of the listedlotteries is optionally based, in whole or in part, a prediction as towhich lotteries will have relatively more interest for the recipient(e.g., wherein the higher the relevancy, the higher the listing).Optionally, the ordering or other emphasis (e.g., color, bolding,placement, animation) can be based in whole or in part on a fee provided(e.g., by the lottery operator/state) for such emphasis. The recipientis optionally notified that if the recipients lottery winnings are usedto purchase additional lottery tickets, then a service fee will not becharged for that additional lottery ticket purchase.

One or more items (e.g., concert, plays, shows, movies or sportingevents) are listed at area 708. The items/events may have been selectedbased in whole or in part on the user's explicit or inferredpreferences, collaborative filtering, based on ticket prices, and/orlocation relative to the user, as described elsewhere herein. Thelisting in this example includes a performer/sports team name, aperformance date, a performance venue, and a ticket price range. Thelisting can be in the form of links. When the recipient activates anevent link, the lottery system or other system causes a ticket selectionand/or purchase user interface (e.g., Web page) for the correspondingevent to be transmitted to the recipient terminal and presented to therecipient. The recipient is optionally notified that, if the recipient'slottery winnings are used to purchase event tickets (or a ticket to oneof a specified selection of events), then the recipient will receive aprice reduction.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example listing of potential invitees generated bythe lottery system for a lottery group initiated and/or managed for agiven user. As similarly discussed above, the list is optionallygenerated based on explicit user-specified preferences and/orrequirements, inferred user preferences, and/or the eligibility ofpotential invitees to participate in a group lottery purchase for one ormore lotteries that the lottery groups is intended to buy tickets in.The list is optionally ordered so that those higher are on the list aremore likely to correspond to the user's preferences or requirements. Theuser can click on checkboxes corresponding to those potential inviteesthat the user wants to invite, or click on a “select all” control toinvite all those listed. Once the user submits that invitee list (e.g.,by click on a submit control), the system automatically transmitsinvitations to join the user's lottery group to the selected invitees.

FIGS. 9A-B illustrate another example process. At state 902, a uservisits a game/gambling (e.g., a lottery) Web site homepage or otherpage. Optionally, the Web site is hosted on a computer system (e.g., alottery system) and operated by a state (e.g., a state of the UnitedStates or a national entity), an agent of a state, or other entity. Atstate 904, the system receives an indication (e.g., via a click on acorresponding link) from the user that the user is interested in playinga lottery. If the user indicates a lack of interest in playing, theprocess proceeds to end state 906. At state 912, the system transmits aWeb page presenting one or more available lotteries that the user canelect to play. The user can select a lottery to play (e.g., by clickingon a link or other control). At state 914, a determination is made as towhether the user has an account with the system (e.g., by reading acookie stored on the user terminal, via a client application thattransmits identification information, or otherwise).

If the user does not have an account, the process proceeds to state 916,and an account is created using information received from the user viathe user terminal. For example, the information can include a user name,contact information (e.g., email address, SMS address, instant messagingaddress, physical mail address, residential address, phone number(s)),gender, date of birth, a government issued identifier or a portionthereof (e.g., driver license number, social security number, etc), apassword and/or a user ID or alias. The user may also be asked to agreeto be bound by rules associated with the account and with lottery rules.

At state 918, the system presents, via the user's terminal, the accountinformation provided by the user, which the user can edit uponactivating an edit control. A determination is made as to whether theuser wants to edit the information. If the user wants to edit theaccount, then the account information is provided in an edit mode.Otherwise, at state 920, the user is asked to confirm the account data.At state 922, the user is presented with a link, which when activated,causes a Web page to be presented via which the user can deposit fundsinto an account that can be used to fund lottery ticket purchases. Theuser can enter a financial account identifier (e.g., a credit cardnumber, a bank account number, etc.), and a maximum amount that can beexpended on a given lottery and/or in a specified time period (e.g., aday, a week, a month, a year, etc.). At state 924, an “accountestablished” confirmation communication is sent by the system to theuser via an address provided by the user.

If, at state 914, a determination is made that the user has an accountwith the system, the process proceeds to state 926. At state 926, theuser is asked to log in to their account (e.g., by providing a user IDand/or password). Optionally, at this time location and authenticationverification is performed at this time, using one or more of thetechniques described herein. At state 928, a user account user interfaceis transmitted to the user's terminal for display. For example, theaccount user interface can list lotteries that the user is eligible for(e.g., based on the user's residency and/or location), the user'spending bets and/or the results of recent bets, and/or a display acontrol via which the user can sign up for one or more alerts (e.g., analert as to when a lottery jackpot reaches a predetermined level, whenlottery winners are announced, an alert to remind the user to make picksfor a lottery, etc.).

If, at state 930, the user indicates (e.g., by activating an appropriatecontrol) that the user wants to subscribe to one or more alerts, theprocess proceeds to state 948, where the user selects one or more alertsthat the user wants to subscribe to. At state 950, a list of theselected alerts is transmitted to the user terminal and the user isasked to confirm the selection. Once the user confirms the selection,the alert selection is stored by the system in the user's accountrecord, and at state 952, a thank you user message is transmitted to theuser. At state 954, an alert confirmation message is transmitted to theuser (e.g., via email or SMS). If, at state 930, the user indicates thatthe user does not want to subscribe to any additional alerts, theprocess proceeds to end state 932.

At state 934, a determination is made (e.g., via an activation of anappropriate control) as to whether the user wished to play an onlineevent (e.g., purchase one or more lottery tickets). If the user does notwant to play, the process proceeds to end state 936. If the user wantsto play, the process proceeds to 938, and a determination is made as towhether the user has sufficient funds (e.g., in a deposit accountaccessible by the system) to fund the lottery picks made by the user. Ifthere are insufficient funds, the process proceeds to state 940, and thesystem prompts the user to add funds to the user's account. If there aresufficient funds, at state 942, a list of the user lottery ticket picksare presented to the user with corresponding costs, and the user isasked to confirm the ticket purchase. At state 944, a thank you messageis presented to the user. At state 954, a ticket purchase confirmationmessage is transmitted to one or more destinations associated with theuser.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example user interface, which can be transmittedby the lottery system to a user terminal in the form of a Web page orotherwise. The Web page provides links to lottery-related news, links touser interfaces for active games, links to a lottery instructionalguide, search links via which the user can search for previous winningnumbers by game and/or search by number for games in which the numberwas a winner.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example account set-up form which can betransmitted by the lottery system over a network to a user terminal(e.g., in the form of a Web page). Fields are provided via which theuser can enter the user's name, contact information (e.g., emailaddress, physical address, phone number, phone type), gender, password,date of birth, driver license number or social security number, and/orother information. In this example, a check box is provided via whichthe user can indicate that the user agrees to be bound by rulesassociated with the account and with lottery rules. In addition, linksare provided to a variety of lottery games, to news and faqs, to a listof winners, to lottery subscriptions, to unclaimed prizes, to an alertuser interface, and so on. In addition, links are provided to differentaccount user interfaces (e.g., a cashier user interface to arrange foraccount deposits/disbursements, an email subscription user interface, alottery subscription user interface, a gaming history user interface,etc.). Information on recent lottery winning numbers and correspondingdates are also optionally displayed.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example “play online” user interface via whichthe user can select one or more lotteries to play. In addition,information regarding betting amounts and current winnable amounts arealso optionally presented.

FIG. 13A illustrates an example accounts user interface. A cashier areais provided, including controls for adding funds to the user's accountbalance, and for cashing out the account balance. In addition, ascheduled plays area lists the pending lotteries for which the user haspurchased picks, and the corresponding lottery drawing dates. A gaminghistory area lists the number of games the user has played in aspecified time period (e.g., during the current year), and provides aplayer ranking indication based at least in part on the number of gamesplayed.

A “my alerts” area provides a link to a user interface via which theuser can specify the user's current notification preferences and cansign up for new alerts. Fields are provided for one or more lotteries(e.g., Mega Millions, Lotto) via which the user can enter one or moresets of numbers, can elect to play an enhanced version of the lottery(e.g., mega), via which the user can indicate how many weeks the userwants to play, which days the user wants to play, and the payout type(e.g., lump sum, or annuity). Links (“quick pick” links) are alsoprovided via which the user can request the system to generate numbersfor the user.

FIG. 13B illustrates an example confirmation user interface, which liststhe lottery and number picks made by the user; and the selected numberof weeks to play, days of week to play, payout type, subtotal forpurchases for each game, and the total amount for all games. A confirmand edit controls are also provided.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example alerts management user interface. Fieldsare provided via which the user can provide an alert address (e.g., andemail address). Controls are provided via which the user can subscribeto drawing alerts for different lottery types (e.g., a mega millionsalert, a lotto alert, etc.), alerts for when a lottery is over aspecified amount (e.g., $50 million), and/or a play reminder alert(e.g., a reminder to submit picks a specified amount of time prior to adrawing).

FIG. 15 illustrates a user interface, including links via which the usercan select an online lottery to play. The user interface displays thedrawing date and the estimated jackpot for the corresponding lotteries.

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certainembodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosedembodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of theinvention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Inaddition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shownand described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scopeof this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the artbased upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that variouscombinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects ofthe embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various featuresand aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with orsubstituted for one another in order to form varying modes of thedisclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the presentinvention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particulardisclosed embodiments described above.

1. A computer system configured to selectively provide access to aservice, comprising: a first instruction configured to receive a lotteryorder from a first user; a second instruction configured to determine ifthe user is identified in a governmental database as being prohibitedfrom participating in at least a first lottery; and a third instructionconfigured to determine if the lottery order is to be fulfilled at leastpartly based on determining whether the user is identified in thegovernmental database as being prohibited from participating in at leastthe first lottery.
 2. The computer system as defined in claim 43,wherein the governmental database is operated by a non-governmentalentity.
 3. The computer system as defined in claim 43, furthercomprising a rule stored in computer readable media that prevents atleast one lottery-related transaction when a frequency oflottery-related transactions meets and/or exceeds a first threshold. 4.The method as defined in claim 43, further comprising a rule stored incomputer readable media that prevents at least one lottery-relatedtransaction when a first lottery purchase amount and/or exceeds a firstthreshold.
 5. A method of processing data, the method comprising:receiving over a network an indication from a first user that the firstuser is interested in forming a lottery pool; accessing historicallottery transaction data for the first user from a data store; accessinghistorical lottery transaction data for other users from the data store;determining which other users are relatively more suitable to be membersof the lottery pool at least partly based on the historical lotterytransaction data for the first user and for other users; andtransmitting over the network to a terminal associated with the firstuser a presentation of other users with an indication that at least afirst other user is more suitable to be a member of the lottery poolthan a second other user.
 6. The method as defined in claim 1, themethod further comprising determining with other users are relativelymore suitable to be members of the lottery pool at least partly based onhistorical purchase information for performance event tickets.
 7. Themethod as defined in claim 1, wherein the indication that at least thefirst other user is more suitable to be a member of the lottery poolthan the second other user is provided by listing the first other userrelatively higher up in a list than the second other user.
 8. The methodas defined in claim 1, the method further comprising: receiving from thefirst user an indication that the first other user is to be invited tojoin the lottery pool; and transmitting an invitation to the first otheruser to join the lottery pool.
 9. The method as defined in claim 1, themethod further comprising: storing a lottery pool group name; storing alottery pool password; receiving from the first user an indication thatthe first other user is to be invited to join the lottery pool; andtransmitting an invitation to the first other user to join the lotterypool, the invitation including the lottery pool group name, the lotterypool password, and a link to a user interface via which the first otheruser can accept the invitation.
 10. The method as defined in claim 1,wherein the transaction data for at least one of the other usersincludes data related to lottery participation frequency.
 11. The methodas defined in claim 1, wherein the transaction data for at least one ofthe other users includes data related to lottery winnings.
 12. Themethod as defined in claim 1, wherein the transaction data for at leastone of the other users includes data related to a lottery number chosenby the one other user.
 13. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein thetransaction data for at least one of the other users includes datarelated to the types of lotteries played by at least one other user. 14.The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the presentation of otherusers includes the corresponding names or aliases of the other users.15. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising identifying tothe first user other users having a lottery-related account and that arealso in a contact database associated with the first user.
 16. Themethod as defined in claim 1, further comprising: identifying contactsin a contact database associated with the first user that have alottery-related account and that have opted in to receive invitations toparticipate in a lottery pool; and transmitting a message to the firstuser that identifies at least a portion of the contacts in the contactdatabase that have a lottery-related account and that have opted in toreceive invitations to participate in a lottery pool.
 17. The method asdefined in claim 1, further comprising providing information to thefirst user regarding the number of lottery pools the first user isparticipating in.
 18. A method of processing data, the methodcomprising: receiving over a network an indication from a first userthat the first user is interested in forming a lottery pool; identifyingcontacts in a contact database associated with the first user that havea lottery-related account and that have opted in to receive invitationsto participate in a lottery pool; transmitting a message to the firstuser that identifies at least a portion of the contacts in the contactdatabase that have a lottery-related account and that have opted in toreceive invitations to participate in a lottery pool; and receiving anindication from the first user that an invitation to join the lotterypool is to be sent to at least a first of the contacts identified in themessage.
 19. The method as defined in claim 18, the method furthercomprising transmitting an invitation to join the lottery pool to thefirst contact.
 20. The method as defined in claim 18, the method furthercomprising transmitting an invitation to join the lottery pool to thefirst contact, the invitation including a group name and a password. 21.The method as defined in claim 18, the method further comprising:transmitting an invitation to join the lottery pool to the firstcontact; receiving an acceptance of the invitation from the firstcontact; and recording the acceptance in a database.
 22. A method ofestablishing a lottery account for a user, the method comprising:receiving a request from the user to establish an account related tolotteries; storing an electronic copy of a government document includinginformation identifying the user, the user's age, and an addressassociated with the user; determining if the user is a customer of afirst internet service provider; accessing a database to determine ifthe user is to be excluded from lottery participation; and establishingan account for the first user at least partly in response to determiningthat the government document information indicates that the first usermeets at least one governmental rule for participating in a lottery,that the user is within the authorized area, and that the database doesnot indicate that the first user is to be excluded from lotteryparticipation.
 23. The method as defined in claim 22, the method furthercomprising: storing in computer readable memory a maximum lottery ticketcharge limit for at least a first credit card; and refusing a charge tothe first credit card related to at least one lottery if the chargewould result in the maximum lottery ticket charge limit being exceeded.24. The method as defined in claim 22, the method further comprising:tracking the number and/or amount of charges that have been declinedand/or that have been charged backed by a user; and if the number and/oramount of charges exceed a predetermined threshold, refusing at leastone charge.
 25. The method as defined in claim 22, the method furthercomprising: tracking the number and/or amount of charges that have beendeclined and/or that have been charged backed by a user; and if thenumber and/or amount of charges exceed a predetermined threshold,causing the user to be reported to a government entity.
 26. A method ofestablishing a lottery account for a user, the method comprising:receiving a request from the user to establish an account related tolotteries; determining if the user is a customer of a first internetservice provider; receiving personal data related to the user from thefirst internet service provider; and establishing an account for thefirst user at least partly in response to the data received from thefirst internet service provider.
 27. The method as defined in claim 26,further comprising using at least a portion of the personal data fromthe first internet service provider to at least partly determine whetherthe user is eligible to participate in at least a first lottery.
 28. Themethod as defined in claim 26, further comprising accessing a databasethat identifies individuals that are not eligible to participate in atleast one.
 29. The method as defined in claim 26, further comprisingaccessing a black list data store that identifies specific individualsthat are not to be allowed to participate in at least one lottery. 30.The method as defined in claim 26, wherein the personal data from thefirst internet service provider indicates the user's residence.
 31. Themethod as defined in claim 26, wherein the personal data from the firstinternet service provider indicates the user's age.
 32. The method asdefined in claim 22, the method further comprising: storing in computerreadable memory a maximum lottery ticket charge limit for at least afirst credit card; and refusing a charge to the first credit card if thecharge would result in the maximum lottery ticket charge limit beingexceeded.
 33. The method as defined in claim 22, the method furthercomprising: tracking the number and/or amount of charges that have beendeclined and/or that have been charged backed by a user; and if thenumber and/or amount of charges exceed a predetermined threshold,refusing at least one lottery-related charge.
 34. The method as definedin claim 22, the method further comprising: tracking the number and/oramount of charges that have been declined and/or that have been chargedbacked by a user; and if the number and/or amount of charges exceed apredetermined threshold, causing the user to be reported to a governmententity
 35. The method as defined in claim 22, the method furthercomprising: receiving at least one rule from the user that indicatesthat a first portion of a future lottery winning is to be deposited in afirst account and that a second portion is be deposited in a secondaccount; and receiving at least one rule from a governmental entity thatindicates that winnings above a specified amount are to be distributedin a manner specified by the governmental entity, wherein the at leastone rule from the governmental entity takes precedence over at least onerule from the user.
 36. A method of distributing lottery funds, themethod comprising: storing in computer readable media at least one rulefrom a user that indicates that a first portion of a future lotterywinning is to be deposited in a first account and that a second portionis be deposited in a second account; and storing at least one rule froma governmental entity that indicates that winnings above a specifiedamount are to be distributed in a manner specified by the governmentalentity, wherein the at least one rule from the governmental entity takesprecedence over at least one rule from the user.
 37. The method asdefined in claim 36, wherein a first user rule specified that a firstamount of the future lottery winning is to be deposited in the firstaccount and that an amount over the first amount is to be deposited inthe second account.
 38. The method as defined in claim 36, wherein afirst user rule specified that a first percentage of the future lotterywinning is to be deposited in the first account.
 39. The method asdefined in claim 36, wherein a first rule from the governmental entityspecifies that for a lottery winning greater than a first amount,additional user identity verification is to be performed.
 40. A methodof distributing lottery funds, the method comprising: storing incomputer readable media a user instruction that indicates that at leasta portion of a future lottery winning be automatically used to make alottery-related purchase; determining that the user has lotterywinnings; and automatically applying at least a portion of the lotterywinnings to a first lottery related purchase in accordance with the userinstruction.
 41. The method as defined in claim 41, wherein the lotteryfirst lottery related purchase is for a lottery ticket.
 42. A method ofprocessing a lottery-related user instruction, the method comprising:storing in computer readable media a user instruction that indicatesthat a lottery-related purchase is to be automatically made when ajackpot reaches a user-defined threshold; determining that a firstjackpot reached and/or exceeded the user-defined threshold; andautomatically applying at least a portion of the lottery winnings to afirst lottery related purchase in accordance with the user instruction.43. A method of processing data, the method comprising: receiving alottery order from a first user; determining if the user is identifiedin a governmental database as not being eligible to participate in atleast a first lottery; determining if the lottery order complies with afirst user rule specified by the first user prior to the lottery order;and at least partly based on determining if the user is identified in agovernmental database as not being eligible to participate in at least afirst lottery and on determining if the lottery order complies with afirst user rule specified by the first user prior to the lottery order,determining if the lottery order is to be fulfilled.
 44. The method asdefined in claim 43, wherein the governmental database is operated by anon-governmental entity.
 45. The method as defined in claim 43, whereinthe first rule relates to a frequency of lottery purchases.
 46. Themethod as defined in claim 43, wherein the first rule relates to lotterypurchase amounts.
 47. The method as defined in claim 43, the methodfurther comprising determining whether the lottery order complies with agovernment rule related to lottery purchase amounts and/or lotterypurchase frequency.
 48. A method of recommending lotteries to a firstuser, the method comprising: accessing historical lottery transactiondata for the first user from a computer readable data store; accessinglocation information for the first user; and at least partly based onthe historical lottery transaction data and the location information,recommending at least a first lottery to the first user.
 49. The methodas defined in claim 48, the method further comprising: accessinghistorical performance event ticket purchase data for the first userfrom a computer readable data store; and at least partly based on thehistorical performance event ticket purchase data, recommending at leasta second lottery to the first user.
 50. The method as defined in claim48, the method further comprising: accessing historical ticket purchasedata related to concerts and/or sport events for the first user from acomputer readable data store; and at least partly based on thehistorical performance event ticket purchase data, recommending at leasta second lottery to the first user.
 51. The method as defined in claim48, the method further comprising offering a discount for at least afirst performance event ticket if the first performance event ticket ispurchased using lottery winnings.
 52. The method as defined in claim 48,the method further comprising selectively providing the first user withinformation on a future performance event at least partly based onhistorical purchase data.
 53. The method as defined in claim 48, themethod further comprising selectively providing the first user withinformation on a future performance event at least partly based onhistorical purchase data and on location data for the first user.
 54. Amethod of configuring a lottery, the method comprising: causing a formfor configuring a lottery to be presented on a display, the formincluding the following fields: a lottery identifier; a lottery startdate: a lottery end date; a lottery drawing date; date informationregarding when online access to the lottery is to be provided to thepublic; types of bets, wherein a user can select one or more bet-typesthat will be permitted in the lottery; number of characters or indiciaallowed in a lottery ticket or bet identifier; and a lump sum field,wherein the user can indicate that a lump sum payment option isavailable for the lottery.
 55. The method as defined in claim 54,further comprising: generating a plurality of lottery ticket or betidentifiers, wherein the plurality of lottery ticket or bet identifiersare generated by a non-governmental entity; and transmitting theplurality of lottery ticket or bet identifiers to a governmental entity.56. The method as defined in claim 54, wherein the form furthercomprises: an annuity pay-out field, wherein the user can indicate thatan annuity payment option is available for the lottery; a startingnumber of alphanumeric string to be used for a first lottery ticket orbet identifier; and a lottery ticket or bet identifier increment.